Fort Wayne|New Haven|46774 Computer|PC Repair|Service|Support. Grantham Computer Consulting

Tablets verse Computers

Shane Grantham — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:12 +0000

I’ve seen headlines recently about the demise of computers in the wake of tablets and smartphones. I have a low-end tablet which I use to display my web site at networking groups and to clients, but I don’t really use it for computer work. Maybe if it was a more expensive model I would use it more. I still prefer my Desktop computers with large monitors and keyboards for getting serious work done. Whether it’s using Quickbooks, doing remote control work, or writing this blog, I prefer a rebular keyboard since I can touch type. I also use laptops a great deal when I’m at a networking group or a client’s location. My smartphone is also a vauable tool to stay connected to the world, but my tablet stays in it’s case most of the time. How about you? Are you using regular computers more or less?

My web site is looking great thanks to Andrew Zelt

Shane Grantham — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:00:56 +0000

Since April, Andrew Zelt has been improving my web site. He just added a slideshow on the homepage with pictures of some of my projects over the years. He added a Facebook Company page plug-in so visitors can link to it and “like” it. He changed the header to reflect my latest picture taken by Beth Flagg. Most importantly, he enhanced the search engine optimization and it’s creeping up on the first page of my target search. Andrew is great to work with because he listens to what I want and incorporates his experience and knowledge in his work. And he always keeps me informed on his progress.

Google TakeOut

Shane Grantham — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:30:19 +0000

I have my calendar, contacts and other data on Google’s cloud programs. This works well for me accessing the data from a smartphone and various Linux, windows and Macintosh computers. One thing worries me; what happens if they lose my data or the internet is unavailable when I really need my data? I found the answer in a google a retrieval tool called Google Takeout which allowed me to archive or copy the data I have on my contacts, youtube videos, Picassa Pictures and other data to my local computer. When you’re logged into your google account search for takeout and the process begins. You run the takeout and it asks which parts of google you want retrieved, then it extracts it to your local computer in a compressed zip file. You then run the zip expansion process and you have your data on the local computer. It’s also on Google as well. The data I was after was my contacts which it creates as my_contacts.vcf which can be opened with Mozilla Thunderbird Email program. Now I can access my google contacts when I can’t access the internet!

Kristal Heffley posted a Windows Internet Explorer 8 web browser article and it made me think

Shane Grantham — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:57 +0000

Kristal posted an article about Internet Explorer 8 and a security issue this week. It got me thinking about the various problems with Internet Explorer over the years. I use several Web Browsers on my different computers. I suggest that you have at least two installed in case your main one has problems. Sometimes, people assume there is only one web browser when there several. On Windows, I use Firefox, Opera, Seamonkey, Safari, Chrome and Comodo Dragon. On my Mac laptop I use Safari web browser. On Linux computers I use Firefox. Just realize no web browser is perfect in terms of security, even the ones I use. As time goes on, updates are released for them and it’s usually a good idea to allow them to install or do it yourself. As more things are done in the cloud and on-line, your web browser is more important than it used to be.

Phishing emails. I bought a $150 watch on ebay.

Shane Grantham — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:51 +0000

Last week I received an email stating I bought a TAG Heuer Men’s Carrera Silver Dial Chronograph Steel Watch. It looked official with a paypal and ebay letterhead, addreses, and official language. I didn’t really buy the watch and the letter had something weird on it: a February 2013 date. I examined the email header which contains all the network informations as it was routed from the sender to me and it was suspicious. For one thing, it was supposed to come from paypal and it had a completely different address. Also, there was a Brazilian address in there with a warning that it might be forged. Inside the email were two links they were hoping I’d click on so I’d possibly get infected with malware or take me to a site to infect me.

Windows Desktop cluttered with icons- create folders for them

Shane Grantham — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:11 +0000

I’ve seen many Windows desktops in my time and some of them were cluttered with icons. The computer desktop is the main screen for Windows and Linux operating systems which opens when you first turn on the computer. For Microsoft Windows, it’s where the start button resides. I remember one which was completely filled with icons. These icons are shortcuts to programs, web sites and other resources. A nice organizational tool is a folder on the desktop for the different icons. I have several on my computer desktop for tools, pictures, videos and others. In windows to create a folder on the desktop, right-click on an open area and a menu appears. Choose new and then select Folder. Create the name under the folder and you’re done. Then you can drag amd drop icons into the folder to clean up the clutter.

Thanks to Amber Recker, I’m scheduling my blogs

Shane Grantham — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:30:20 +0000

Recently, at a Social Media Breakfast Fort Wayne meeting, Amber was on the panel. She mentioned she writes her social media posts ahead of time and uses a tool to schedule them for posting. I started doing this with my blog posts and it’s taken the worry away in regards to writing something every day. Now when an idea for an article hits me. I just put it into my blog as a draft and then go back and revise it and schedule the post as I have time.

Social Media Breakfast Fort Wayne – a variety of people

Shane Grantham — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:12 +0000

At the last Social Media breakfast in April, I got there about 730AM and sat at my usual table up front near Kevin Mullett. That way I’m near the exit if a riot breaks out. Shortly, John, a networker fron the Monday networking group walked by and we spoke and he sat down at my table. Next, Kit, from the SMBFW sat down at the table to my right. Then a blast from the past walked by and asked if I remembered him. It was Bob from my Elementary school days who I hadn’t seen in 30 years. He said he found out about the SMBFW from my Facebook Post a few days ago. I introduced all three to each other and then Kevin started the session. If you haven’t been to one of these you need to go at least once. You don’t know what or WHO you’re missing!

Comodo Dragon Browser and Firefox on Windows 8

Shane Grantham — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:00:25 +0000

Today I was connected to a client’s laptop while they were in Florida. I was using my Windows 8 Pro Laptop and started the remote control session in Comodo Dragon web browser. the resonse was slow and every time I clicked on their laptops icons, the screen would refresh and prolong my agony. I didn’t have time to troubleshoot, so I switched to another web browser: Mozilla Firefox. It responded much faster in Logmein and I continued to use it the rest of the day. I don’t know why Dragon was slow, but in everything else it was fast. That’s why I am an advocate of having at least two web browsers on every computer in case one has problems in one web site then you have another option.

Windows 8 ISO burning

Shane Grantham — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:09 +0000

This week I used one of my Microsoft Windows 8 laptops to create a CD for one of my programs from an ISO image file. Windows 8 has a built-in service which recognizes the ISO and asks if you want to create the disk from it. No special software needed. It works well. In previous versions you had to install an additional program like nero or roxio.